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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Homophobia, Incest, Miscarriage, Suicide
4.4 stars
Cults have always fascinated me. I have tried to understand them from all angles. Yet, for some reason the logical side of me is too stubborn to tell into them personally. That being said, the author gave me a new perspective. Even though it later shows how this all came to be I could see from the main characters feelings how it could be perceived if that is all they had ever known.
It isn't until the outside creeps in that their world starts to crumble. There are a couple extreme repenting/cleansing ceremonies that are pretty gruesome in addition to a heartbreaking practices but It doesn't hide that their is also love, and self discovery. First read by this author. I'll look for more in the future.
Cults have always fascinated me. I have tried to understand them from all angles. Yet, for some reason the logical side of me is too stubborn to tell into them personally. That being said, the author gave me a new perspective. Even though it later shows how this all came to be I could see from the main characters feelings how it could be perceived if that is all they had ever known.
It isn't until the outside creeps in that their world starts to crumble. There are a couple extreme repenting/cleansing ceremonies that are pretty gruesome in addition to a heartbreaking practices but It doesn't hide that their is also love, and self discovery. First read by this author. I'll look for more in the future.
This book was absolutely amazing if you love the dark twisted stories. It's a fast read, as you won't be able to put it down. Charity B does not disappoint! My heart broke for these young lovers who met as children & were true friends first. I cannot imagine living a certain life and then one day, you are forced to live alone in a strange world as a child. Our couple eventually find each other again, and there is no denying their love and attraction. Their roller coaster ride through hell and back makes the story even more gut-wrenching! Absolutely LOVED this book, would love to read more about them in the "real world"!
This is such an interesting storyline with great characters!! The setting is so good!!
I think it was smart and thoughtful. Angsty and forbidden romance is a plus!! It shows a very particular aspect of human nature that’s so intriguing and portrayed very well. The cult setting and dynamics were great!
I love that it covers many years so I felt like I could understand the characters and their journey.
I loved supporting character Benji so much!! He really added a lot to the story in my opinion.
It’s not a completely dark book in my opinion however there are trigger warnings for a reason. Some things that happen aren’t for sensitive readers. It’s certainly not light and fluffy that’s not what I mean. It deals with many difficult and extreme situations and they are described and not glossed over.
At midpoint I thought I knew where the story was going and I was WRONG!! I love when that happens in a book!!
These characters will stay with me. I loved them!!
I enjoyed every aspect of this beautifully written book!! It still has me thinking.. I LOVED It!!
I think it was smart and thoughtful. Angsty and forbidden romance is a plus!! It shows a very particular aspect of human nature that’s so intriguing and portrayed very well. The cult setting and dynamics were great!
I love that it covers many years so I felt like I could understand the characters and their journey.
I loved supporting character Benji so much!! He really added a lot to the story in my opinion.
It’s not a completely dark book in my opinion however there are trigger warnings for a reason. Some things that happen aren’t for sensitive readers. It’s certainly not light and fluffy that’s not what I mean. It deals with many difficult and extreme situations and they are described and not glossed over.
At midpoint I thought I knew where the story was going and I was WRONG!! I love when that happens in a book!!
These characters will stay with me. I loved them!!
I enjoyed every aspect of this beautifully written book!! It still has me thinking.. I LOVED It!!
Somewhere between 3.5 stars and 4 stars (liked and really liked)
Anointed is the first work I've read by Charity B, and is a dark romance set in a religious cult. It does contain triggers, abuse and violence so if any of these might be an issue then you need to proceed with caution.
What lover of dark reads could resist that blurb? It totally drew me in with it's promise of darkness, secrecy and cults. However it is quite misleading as the blurb really only deals with the last half of the book. The first third is actually their time as young teens in the 'Anointed Land', followed by snapshots of the years between Laurel Ann being excommunicated and her return to the compound. It didn't lesson my enjoyment of the book as this part was nicely dark too.
Laurel Ann is 13 when we first meet her, whilst Zebadiah, the Prophet's eldest son, is 15. They have strong feelings for each other and both pray to their god Zaaron that he will allow them to be bound together. However girls are considered ready for 'marriage' as soon as they get 'the blood of innocence', but Zebadiah won't be eligible until he is 18, and even that is considered young. Zaaron doesn't listen to their prayers, and Zeb's father chooses to bind Laur to the worst person possible.
This part of the story really drew me in, I really felt the love between Laur and Zeb. I also believed in them and felt a good connection to them. This didn't last when we moved into the present day/future. Generally, I still believed in and cared for Laurel Ann as a character, but Zeb felt flat at times. In the last few chapters this connection came back and once again I was rooting for Laur and Zeb to find their HEA.
There are dark scenes through out the story, some involving main characters and some involving side ones. Whilst the scenes were grim, scary and usually involved pain for someone, they sometimes felt more tell than show. There are quite a few scenes of both physical and sexual abuse. Whilst these are 'physically' described well, I personally feel more impact and darkness when they are conveyed more through emotions. I still enjoyed them though.
I borrowed the following quote by Wendy Douglas from a review of another book - it perfectly sums up why this book didn't achieve 4.5 - 5 stars for me.
"much of the action ... was told in passive voice without involving the reader to become part of the story. I wanted to see, hear, feel and experience the things"
That aside this is still a really well written story with an evil riddled, twisty plot but also with love and hope at it's core. Overall the pace was good, though it did slow and drag on a couple of brief occasions, but not enough to push me into skimming parts. That might have been because I always want to know how the book ends though!
This is most certainly an 18+ read due to it's sexual content, violence, abuse and language. The consensual sex scenes are actually quite tasteful and not unnecessarily long. I do recommend this book to those that love dark romance, I did enjoy it and I will certainly read more work by the author.
Anointed is the first work I've read by Charity B, and is a dark romance set in a religious cult. It does contain triggers, abuse and violence so if any of these might be an issue then you need to proceed with caution.
What lover of dark reads could resist that blurb? It totally drew me in with it's promise of darkness, secrecy and cults. However it is quite misleading as the blurb really only deals with the last half of the book. The first third is actually their time as young teens in the 'Anointed Land', followed by snapshots of the years between Laurel Ann being excommunicated and her return to the compound. It didn't lesson my enjoyment of the book as this part was nicely dark too.
Laurel Ann is 13 when we first meet her, whilst Zebadiah, the Prophet's eldest son, is 15. They have strong feelings for each other and both pray to their god Zaaron that he will allow them to be bound together. However girls are considered ready for 'marriage' as soon as they get 'the blood of innocence', but Zebadiah won't be eligible until he is 18, and even that is considered young. Zaaron doesn't listen to their prayers, and Zeb's father chooses to bind Laur to the worst person possible.
This part of the story really drew me in, I really felt the love between Laur and Zeb. I also believed in them and felt a good connection to them. This didn't last when we moved into the present day/future. Generally, I still believed in and cared for Laurel Ann as a character, but Zeb felt flat at times. In the last few chapters this connection came back and once again I was rooting for Laur and Zeb to find their HEA.
There are dark scenes through out the story, some involving main characters and some involving side ones. Whilst the scenes were grim, scary and usually involved pain for someone, they sometimes felt more tell than show. There are quite a few scenes of both physical and sexual abuse. Whilst these are 'physically' described well, I personally feel more impact and darkness when they are conveyed more through emotions. I still enjoyed them though.
I borrowed the following quote by Wendy Douglas from a review of another book - it perfectly sums up why this book didn't achieve 4.5 - 5 stars for me.
"much of the action ... was told in passive voice without involving the reader to become part of the story. I wanted to see, hear, feel and experience the things"
That aside this is still a really well written story with an evil riddled, twisty plot but also with love and hope at it's core. Overall the pace was good, though it did slow and drag on a couple of brief occasions, but not enough to push me into skimming parts. That might have been because I always want to know how the book ends though!
This is most certainly an 18+ read due to it's sexual content, violence, abuse and language. The consensual sex scenes are actually quite tasteful and not unnecessarily long. I do recommend this book to those that love dark romance, I did enjoy it and I will certainly read more work by the author.
3.5 It was well very written. Religious cults aren't to my personal taste, but couldn't resist because I love the author. Many others should enjoy!
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Some of the characters annoyed me but that was the point so it didn’t take me out of enjoying my reading experience. It only made it more intense and page turning despite disagreeing with some main characters.
Anointed has been on my TBR for a while and I'm not sure why I was waiting.
This story was intense and so well written. The characters were wonderful and true to who they are. The relationships of these people in the Anointed land were very creative and extremely detailed.
I loved this book!
This story was intense and so well written. The characters were wonderful and true to who they are. The relationships of these people in the Anointed land were very creative and extremely detailed.
I loved this book!
I always wait with baited breath for any new book from this author. She has become a one clicker for me with her superb writing skills and Anointed does not disappoint. Cults always scare me because you wonder what kind of crazy has to exists inside these places and also why can’t a person just see through the bull? Well, what if you were born inside this world and it is ALL you have ever known? What if you have no knowledge of anything else and have been taught to fear EVERYTHING outside your known existence? This is the world of Anointed.
Zebadiah and Laurel Ann are the closest of friends living their best young life on the Anointed Land. They study, do chores and play until one day something happens that changes the course of their lives forever. Is it something monsterous, has the outside Philistines charge the gates onto the land, did Zaaron make a physical appearance or did The Prophet die? No it is something natural but so life altering that these two will never be quite the same.
When one is cast out and the other left to move forward through guilt, shame and a whole lot of unanswered questions how will they ever be able to find what they once shared before it was tainted? This is a story of faith, friendship, love, misquided loyalty, fear, pain, devotion, deceit, lies and in the end knowledge and strength. I felt physical pain while reading the trials and tribulations these characters had to endure all for a future paradise and salvation.
This book is so unique and raw that my emotions were all over the place while reading. I was so sad, angry and full of tension throughout the entire book. I was waiting for the other shoe to drop with every flick of my Kindle and just as I was taking a cleasning breath, BAM, something else happened. Thus is the writing of this storytelling genius. You do not want to miss this book, which not only has incredible main characters, but a full and interesting group of secondary characters. I highly recommend this amazing read but please pay attention to the “trigger warnings” that have been clearly stated.
Zebadiah and Laurel Ann are the closest of friends living their best young life on the Anointed Land. They study, do chores and play until one day something happens that changes the course of their lives forever. Is it something monsterous, has the outside Philistines charge the gates onto the land, did Zaaron make a physical appearance or did The Prophet die? No it is something natural but so life altering that these two will never be quite the same.
When one is cast out and the other left to move forward through guilt, shame and a whole lot of unanswered questions how will they ever be able to find what they once shared before it was tainted? This is a story of faith, friendship, love, misquided loyalty, fear, pain, devotion, deceit, lies and in the end knowledge and strength. I felt physical pain while reading the trials and tribulations these characters had to endure all for a future paradise and salvation.
This book is so unique and raw that my emotions were all over the place while reading. I was so sad, angry and full of tension throughout the entire book. I was waiting for the other shoe to drop with every flick of my Kindle and just as I was taking a cleasning breath, BAM, something else happened. Thus is the writing of this storytelling genius. You do not want to miss this book, which not only has incredible main characters, but a full and interesting group of secondary characters. I highly recommend this amazing read but please pay attention to the “trigger warnings” that have been clearly stated.